Collapsible egg-carrier.



E. O. KRAEPELIN COLLAPSIBLE EGGCARRIER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 26, I9I6.

1,243,075. Patented Oct. 16,1917.

A TTORNEYS EDWARD KRAEPELIE Me an c arseness.

L PSlBIA EG -casemerea ents,

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD O. K A PE- LIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Botsford, township of Newtown, county of Fairfield, State of Connecticut, have in vented an Improvement in Collapsible Egg- Carriers, of which the following is a specifi- V nd lnppmgcase embodying my invencation.

This invention relates generally to packing and shipping cases, with more particular reference to cushioned containers for eggs and other fragile bodies, such as electric lamp bulbs, for example.

lVhere these bodies are themselves .comparatively cheap in cost to the ultimate consumer, it isv essential, of course, that the package or container in which they are placed, stored, handled and shipped, shall be itself relatively cheap in cost of production and delivery, so that the aggregate cost of the package and contents to the consumer shall not be excessive. At the same time, the construction of this package should be such as to insure a minimum of breakage of the separated fragile "bodies therein. Furthermore, in supplying a dealer with these packages, account must be taken of the fact that transportation charges are generally based upon the ratio between bulk and weight, and these packages being necessarily very light in Weight by' comparison with their bulk, great economy results from, a construction which enables the manufacturer to reduce bulk by packing these packages for shipment in a knocked-down or collapsed condition, yet collapsed in such manner that they may be very easily and readily opened by the dealer for the insertion'therein' by him of the'bodies or'article's which are to be handled or shipped and finally closed and sealed. Therefore, the present invention contemplates an exceedingly light and cheap package, the various parts of which may be easily formed and assembled, which will amply cushion each individual fragile body contained therein Without unduewaste of space, which may be substantially com pletely collapsed for original packaging and shipment, and which may beeasily and readily opened by the dealer for theplacing there in of the bodies to be shipped and just as easily and readily. closed and sealed; Fur thermore, vthis inventionhas. in view a very material increase in the capacity of a packge of v his .charactem WithOut'sacrifice of I onev form, of the Specification of Letters Fatent. Patented {M31 16, 191*? Application fired October 26,1916; Serial No. 127,735. I

drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which.

Figure lis a perspective viewof a packtion, with the outer shell or case removed; Fig. 2 1s; a transverse vertical section of Fig. 1

interior. casing shown in v Fig. 3 is. aperspective view-of one of the 1 interior containing jackets;

Fig. 4.1s a viewsimilar to Flg. 2 show ng a slightly modified form of the construction illustrated therein; I

" Fig. 5 is a. perspective view .of the lnner frame,'as shown in Fig. 1, in a collapsed or knocked-down condition;

, Fig. 6 is a-perspective view of the package-with the protecting outer shell or case thereon; f f

Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical section of Fig. 4, illustrating amodified form ofv the diagonally disposed dividing wall or parti tion;1'

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the outer shell or case in a? collapsed orlmocked-down condition'f Fig- 9 is a detail, view, in perspective,

showing the interior containing jacket attached tothe dividing walkwith the latter in a knocked-down condition, and

Fig. 10 is'a perspective view of the bracing frame for the'double divid as hereinafter described;

' My improved'package. comprises an. inner frame or casing in the 'form'of a rectangular b02615, folded from a'p'aste-board or preferably from what is known as a faced or double facedv corrugated paper blank, oppositesides thereof being open, whereby this casing or frame may be collapsed or knocked-down to substantially flat condition, as shownin Fig. 5. "A'wall or partition 16, which may be of'eitherrea'sonably stiff paste-board or faced corrugated paper, as may be desired, divides theiinterior of the frame or casing'1 5, when expanded, diagonally into two longitudinally extending compartments. "This-partition orwall is re; tained in position by bending the end edges thereof around the edges of the top and bottoin,*respective1y, of the sidewalls of the ing partition,

free, as shown in Fig. 4. The frame 15 is so dimensioned as to reasonably snugly con-' 'tain the individual jackets 19 in such number as that in which the contained articles" are usually packed or sold, such as a half dozen or a dozen.

Each of the individual jackets 19 is formed from a. small sheet of comparatively heavy paper, the blank from which it is shaped being substantially rectangular, al-

though in cutting the form, flaps or flanges 20 are provided or' opposite side edges eX- tending from corresponding ends of said edges for a distance which approximates the width of the dividing wall or partition 16. The blank is then curved to cause the lower ends of the flaps 20 to overlap, and to diverge from that point to'form an acute angle, thus giving the receptacle a substantially cone-shaped configuration, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The material 21, at the bottom of the receptacle, is then pressed together and folded obliquely toward the side wall of the receptacle, the fold being so disposed as to form with the flaps 20 20 an angle which approximates the angle between the side wall of the casing 15 and the dividing partition 16 therein. The flaps 20 20 provide flat faces which, through the employment of any suitable adhesive, may now be secured to the face of the dividing partition or wall 16, and the portion of the material 21 will be retained in a folded condition by the wall of the casing 15, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The remaining jackets having been similarly mounted, each thereof is now in condition to receive an egg, or other article, after which the top portion of the jacket is folded down upon itself to close the receptacle, as shown in Fig. 1, the paper material being so folded as not to in terfere with the slipping of the frame or casing 15 within the outer shell or case 22, although the resiliency of the folded material is such that the created friction will yieldingly resist forces tending to withdraw the interior frame 15 from the outer shell or case 22 with which it has what may be termed telescopic connection.

In view of the fact that the wall or partition 16 divides the interior of the frame or casing 15 symmetrically into two triangularly-shaped compartments, it will be apparent that I may similarly mount upon the opposite face-of the partition 16 a corresponding series of the individual jackets 19, thereby doubling the capacity of the package. Obviously, when the jackets 19 on one side of the package have been filled and closed, the package is turned over and the jackets 19 in the other side thereof are .simi

larly filled and closed. These jackets are held in their closed condition by the outer shell or case 22, and it will also be apparent that in case both of the side edges 17 and 18 of the partition 16 are left free, the outer shell or case 22 will also serve to engage these edges 17 and 18 and retain the partition 16in place. I may give greater stability to the structure, however, without mterfering with the collapsible property thereof as a whole, by securing the side edge 17 of the partition 16 to the side wall. of the frame 15 by any suitable adhesive, as

shown in Fig. 2.

From the foregoing it is thought to be apparentas I have demonstrated to my own satisfactionthat I have provlded a package for fragile bodies in which cachindividual body is amply cushioned against the effects of shocks and jars attendant upon handling and transportatlon, and at the same time have provided a smallpackage of relative large capacity, in which there is very little waste space, and in which the ratiobetween bulk and weight may be said to be a minimum.

Furthermore, the'containing frame in its entirety may be packed and shipped in collapsed or knocked-down condition. By folding the sides of the jacket 19 upon themselves, and then pressing toward each other diagonally opposite corners of the frame 15, the package maybe reduced to substantially fiat condition, as shown in Fig. 5,

and this whether or not both or one only of the side edges 17 and 18 of'the: partition 16 are unattached to a side wall of the containing frame.

Obviously, the outer shell or case 22 may be collapsed to a substantially fiat condition, as shown in Fig. 8, and the fact that the innerframe and outer case must be separately collapsed and shipped is of no consequence in view of the fact that the two are necessarily separated when the contents of the package are being placed therein.

Under what may be termed ordinary conditions, and with the individual jacket 19 made from proper stock, I have found that a single strip of paste-board or faced corrugated paper will satisfactorily answer all purposes of the dividing wall or partition 16. However, where the container and its fragile contents is likely to be subjected to unusual shocks or jars, or frequent handling, particularly when eggs or other fra ile bodies are packed in both compartments, I have found it safer to provide a double partition 23, as shown in Fig. 7. This double partition 23 is formed from a single blank of eitherpaste-board or faced corrugated paper, folded into the form of a rectangular frame of relatively shallow depth, and the meeting edges being suitably joined together to form a box having open wall forms a dividing partition which is more yielding and resilient than the single wall illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4, and afiords much better protection to the contents of the container.

Of course, this double partition 23 will have to be removed in order to collapse the containing frame 15 so that the latter may be packed in a knocked-down condition. However, the individual jackets 19, secured to each face of the partition 23, are removable therewith and are capable of being collapsed with the partition 23 to a form substantially such as that illustrated in Fig. 9. Of course, the reinforcing frame 241: will have to be removed from the frame 23 before, the latter with theindividual jackets 19 can be collapsed, but it will be noted that the reinforcing frame 2a is also collapsible, so that while the structure in assembled form 'may not be shipped in knocked-down condition, it may be readily separated into its component parts and each of said parts be collapsed as described.

Many modifications of minor details of my improved case for eggs and other fragile bodies will doubtless readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art to which it appertains, and I therefore do not desire to limit my invention to the specific construction herein shown and described.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A package of the character described comprising an elongated, substantially rectangular, collapsible box, open top and bottom, a diagonally disposed partition dividing said box longitudinally into two triangularly-shaped compartments, a row of individual, closable and collapsible containing jackets secured to said partition, the latter having at least one side edge thereof unattached whereby the entire structure may be endwise collapsed to substan tially fiat form, and a collapsible outer shell or case to snugly contain said box, close the open top and bottom and prevent collapse thereof.

2. A package of the character described comprising an elongated, substantially rectangular, collapsible box, open top and bottom, a diagonally disposed partition dividing said box longitudinally .into two triangularly-shaped compartments, a row of individual, closable and collapsible containing jackets secured to each side of said collapse thereof.

- partition, the latter having at least one side edge thereof unattached whereby the entire structure may be endwise collapsed to sub- =stantially fiat form, and a collapsible outer shell or case to snugly contain said box,

close the open top and bottom and prevent 3. A package of the character described comprising an elongated, substantially rectangular box, open top and bottom, a diagonally disposed partition dividing said box longitudinally into two triangularly-shaped compartments, said partition consisting of an open-ended rectangular frame of elastically yielding material provided with re movable interior reinforcing means, and a row of individual closable containing jackets secured to said partition.

4. A package of thecharacter described comprising an elongated, substantially rectangular box, open top and bottom, a diagonally disposed partition dividing said box longitudinally into two triangularlyshaped compartments, said partition consisting of an open-ended rectangular frame of elastically yielding material provided with removable interior reinforcing means, a row of individual closable containing j ackets secured to said partition, and a collapsible outer shell or case to snugly contain said box, close the open top and bottom and prevent collapse thereof.

5. A. package of the character described comprising an elongated, substantially rectangular box, open top and bottom, a diagonally disposed partition dividing said box longitudinally into two triangularlyshaped compartments, said partition consisting of an open-ended rectangular frame of elastically yielding material provided with removable interior reinforcing means, and a row of individual closable containing jackets secured to each of the side faces of said partition.

6. A package of the character described comprising an elongated, substantially rectangular, collapsible box, open top and bottom, a removable, diagonally disposed partition dividing said box longitudinally into two triangularly-shaped compartments, said partition consisting of an open-ended frame of elastically yielding material provided with a removabl and collapsible interior reinforcing frame, a row of individual, collapsible and closable containing jackets secured to said partition, and a collapsible outer shell or case to snugly contain said box, close the open top and bottom and prevent collapse thereof.

7. A package of the character described comprising an elongated, substantially rectangular box, open top and bottom, a diagonally disposed partition dividing said box longitudinally into two triangularlyshaped compartments, and a row of individual containing jackets secured to eachof the faces of said partition, said jackets being formed from elastically pliable material curved and folded to provide substantially cone-shaped receptacles in extended length exceeding the height of said box and the free open end of each being closable'b'y folding the material upon itself to lie Within the boundary planes of said box, said box and its contents interfitting Within a removable outer shell or case Which When applied closes the open top and bottom of the former and prevents collapse thereof.

'tangular box,

8. A package of the character described comprising an elongated, substantially recopen top and bottom, a diagonally disposed partitiondividing said box longitudinally into two triangularlyshaped compartments, and a roW of individual containing jackets secured to eachof entire structure-the attached parts collectivelyand the unattached parts individuallybeing collapsible to substantially flat forms. 7

9. A package of the character described comprising an elongated, substantially rectangular box, open top and bottom, a diagonally disposed partition dividing said box longitudinally into two triangularlyshaped compartments, said partition consisting of a removable, open-ended, rectangular frame ofelastically yielding material provided With a removable interior reinforcing frame, and a row of individual containing jackets secured to each of the faces of said partition, said jackets being formed from elastically pliable material curved and folded to provide substantially cone-shaped receptacles in extended length exceeding the height of said box and the free open end of each being closable by folding the material upon itself to lie Within the boundary planes of said box, said box, and its contents interfitting Within a removable outer shell or case Which When applied closes the open top EDWARD O. KRAEPELIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

